When someone says, “travel safely,” as you head to the airport, chances are you’re not giving much thought to how your luggage may affect your health during the trip. But as millions of Americans haul packed suitcases and carry-on bags through expansive terminals and transportation hubs this holiday season, plenty of pulled muscles are bound to impact travelers improperly lugging large loads while hurrying for final boarding.

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) recently cited an eye-opening, muscle-aching statistic from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) – a whopping 53,790 luggage-related injuries were reported in 2012.

“A packed, 40 lb. suitcase weighs the same as 40 lbs. of weights you’ve learned to use correctly in your workout routine at the gym, so you need proper technique to effectively use both and avoid injury,” said Dr. Taruna Madhav Crawford, M.D., an orthopaedic surgeon with MidAmerica Orthopaedics in Oakbrook Terrace and volunteer instructor at the University of Illinois at Chicago. “But in a typical travel rush, passengers are more focused on other things and often find out the hard way that they didn’t carry their bags the right way.”

Dr. Madhav Crawford and the AAOS offer the following travel tips to prevent injuries when lifting luggage and toting bags:

- Look for sturdy but light pieces of luggage when buying new ones – with wheels and a handle that’s easy to grip.

- Pack lightly – carrying a few smaller bags is better for your body than lugging one large piece of luggage. Also, most airlines restrict limit carry-on bags to weighing 40 lbs. or less.

- Lift with your knees, not your back! When lifting bags off the ground to load into the trunk of a car or onto the table while going through airport security, you should bend at your knees and not your waist.

- Lift with your leg muscles and straighten up. Be sure to hold bags you’re lifting close to your body and not with outstretched arms.

- For lifting carry-on bags into overhead compartments when boarding a plane, lift it onto the top of the seat underneath first. Then grip the left and right sides to lift it into the overhead – wheels first.

Also:

- Do not twist your body when lifting and carrying luggage.

- Do not rush when lifting or carrying a suitcase.

- Do not carry heavier pieces of luggage for long periods of time – check heavier bags at the airport.

- If using a backpack, make sure it has two padded and adjustable shoulder straps and carry with both shoulders, not just hanging off of one. Also, choose one with several compartments to secure various-sized items.

- And if you have to haul luggage while climbing stairs, carry your bags instead of dragging them up the steps.

“Getting to your holiday destination shouldn’t involve aches and pains from lifting and carrying bags,” added Dr. Madhav Crawford. “Taking a few small steps before and during your trip can help ensure pain-free and hopefully on-time travels.”

To learn more about services available and extended hours at MidAmerica Orthopaedics of Oakbrook Terrace or to contact Dr. Madhav Crawford, please visit www.handtoshoulderclinic.com or call 1-630-317-7007.